Travis Tollett shows the vehicle he races in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race at the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association conference at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach on Wednesday.

News-Journal/NIGEL COOK

FATIMA HUSSEINBUSINESS WRITER

Published: Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 6:58 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 10:18 p.m.

DAYTONA BEACH — Travis Tollett thought his racing days were over in 2007 when an accident on his all-terrain vehicle left him paralyzed from the waist down.

Facts

If you go

WHO: National Mobility Equipment Dealers AssociationWHAT: Annual trade show for manufacturers and dealers of equipment that allows the disabled to drive motor vehicles.WHEN: Conference began Wednesday and concludes Friday. The event is open to the public Friday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. WHERE: Ocean Center, 101 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach COST: $200 for one-day pass; free for those with physical disabilities INFO: online at nmeda.com

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But last year, thanks to a device called a Sure Grip, the 28-year-old was able to climb into the driver's seat of an ATV for a race for the first time since his injury. The device enables Tollett to drive without the use of his legs.

The Sure Grip and other devices are on display this week at the Ocean Center, where the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association is holding its 22nd annual conference. The trade show ends Friday.

Mobility solutions are a billion-dollar industry that is expected to grow in the next five years to $5 billion, according to Dave Hubbard, chief executive officer of the Tampa-based association.

Hubbard attributed the projected growth to the increasing numbers of disabled military veterans returning home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the nation's growing numbers of senior citizens as the baby boom generation ages.

This week's conference has drawn an estimated 600 attendees from throughout the United States and Canada, including manufacturers and dealers of mobility devices as well as occupational and physical therapists and health care professionals.

Friday, for the first time in the association's history, the trade show will be open to the public, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The cost to attend is free for people who are physically disabled and $200 per person otherwise.

Representatives of several major auto makers — including Ford, Chrysler, General Motors and Toyota — were on hand at the trade show Wednesday night to unveil their latest innovations in mobility solutions.

Products on display include chair lifts, customized vehicles, ramps, and specially equipped steering wheels — all designed to allow those with disabilities to access vehicles, either as a passenger or as a driver.

"It's a fairly small industry now, and a large part of that has to do with the lack of awareness," Hubbard said.

Keith Howell, founder and president of Howell Ventures Ltd., the New Brunswick, Canada, company that manufacturers the Sure Grip, said, "Awareness is a huge issue. Most people don't think about mobility solutions and those types of things unless or until someone in their family is disabled."

Howell is a quadriplegic who invented what became the Sure Grip 20 years ago so he could drive a car, according to his company's website. His company is a sponsor of Tollett as an ATV racer.

An ATV racer since age 3, Tollet became the first quadriplegic in July 2012 to compete as a driver in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race in Colorado.

Doug Eaton, president of Vantage Mobility International, a Phoenix, Ariz.-based company that customizes vehicles to accommodate the disabled, said, "The excitement about this industry is about providing freedom to people who are physically challenged."

Several attendees of the trade show on Wednesday evening were in wheelchairs. Those who spoke with the News-Journal said technological advances have substantially changed their lives, for the better.

Mike Savilcki, a spokesman for National Mobility Awareness Month, which takes place in May, said when he suffered the injury that left him disabled more than 20 years ago, the only options for driving were vans. Today, there is a conversion option for any type of vehicle, he said.

"You didn't have any choices back in the day, aside from a van, but now there are so many solutions — you can drive a car," he said.

Some vendors at the convention — like Howell — were in wheelchairs themselves and started companies because of their frustration over the limited mobility options available to them.

When asked about the future of mobility solutions, Hubbard said, "I see it expanding and I see the invention of more intricate products for the disabled."

<p>DAYTONA BEACH &mdash; Travis Tollett thought his racing days were over in 2007 when an accident on his all-terrain vehicle left him paralyzed from the waist down. </p><p>But last year, thanks to a device called a Sure Grip, the 28-year-old was able to climb into the driver's seat of an ATV for a race for the first time since his injury. The device enables Tollett to drive without the use of his legs. </p><p>The Sure Grip and other devices are on display this week at the Ocean Center, where the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association is holding its 22nd annual conference. The trade show ends Friday. </p><p>Mobility solutions are a billion-dollar industry that is expected to grow in the next five years to $5 billion, according to Dave Hubbard, chief executive officer of the Tampa-based association. </p><p>Hubbard attributed the projected growth to the increasing numbers of disabled military veterans returning home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the nation's growing numbers of senior citizens as the baby boom generation ages. </p><p>This week's conference has drawn an estimated 600 attendees from throughout the United States and Canada, including manufacturers and dealers of mobility devices as well as occupational and physical therapists and health care professionals. </p><p>Friday, for the first time in the association's history, the trade show will be open to the public, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The cost to attend is free for people who are physically disabled and $200 per person otherwise. </p><p>Representatives of several major auto makers &mdash; including Ford, Chrysler, General Motors and Toyota &mdash; were on hand at the trade show Wednesday night to unveil their latest innovations in mobility solutions. </p><p>Products on display include chair lifts, customized vehicles, ramps, and specially equipped steering wheels &mdash; all designed to allow those with disabilities to access vehicles, either as a passenger or as a driver. </p><p>"It's a fairly small industry now, and a large part of that has to do with the lack of awareness," Hubbard said. </p><p>Keith Howell, founder and president of Howell Ventures Ltd., the New Brunswick, Canada, company that manufacturers the Sure Grip, said, "Awareness is a huge issue. Most people don't think about mobility solutions and those types of things unless or until someone in their family is disabled." </p><p>Howell is a quadriplegic who invented what became the Sure Grip 20 years ago so he could drive a car, according to his company's website. His company is a sponsor of Tollett as an ATV racer. </p><p>An ATV racer since age 3, Tollet became the first quadriplegic in July 2012 to compete as a driver in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race in Colorado. </p><p>Doug Eaton, president of Vantage Mobility International, a Phoenix, Ariz.-based company that customizes vehicles to accommodate the disabled, said, "The excitement about this industry is about providing freedom to people who are physically challenged." </p><p>Several attendees of the trade show on Wednesday evening were in wheelchairs. Those who spoke with the News-Journal said technological advances have substantially changed their lives, for the better. </p><p>Mike Savilcki, a spokesman for National Mobility Awareness Month, which takes place in May, said when he suffered the injury that left him disabled more than 20 years ago, the only options for driving were vans. Today, there is a conversion option for any type of vehicle, he said. </p><p>"You didn't have any choices back in the day, aside from a van, but now there are so many solutions &mdash; you can drive a car," he said. </p><p>Some vendors at the convention &mdash; like Howell &mdash; were in wheelchairs themselves and started companies because of their frustration over the limited mobility options available to them. </p><p>When asked about the future of mobility solutions, Hubbard said, "I see it expanding and I see the invention of more intricate products for the disabled."</p>